WO2019243140A1

WO2019243140A1 - Method for processing biomass by co-grinding with a second biomass feedstock

Info

Publication number: WO2019243140A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/065398
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas PLENNEVAUX; Jeremy Gazarian; Laurent Bournay; Norbert Ullrich; Michael Hecquet
Original assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles; Axens; Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives; Total Raffinage Chimie; Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions Ag; Avril; Bionext
Priority date: 2018-06-21
Filing date: 2019-06-12
Publication date: 2019-12-26
Also published as: BR112020024265A2; US11473025B2; FR3082850A1; CA3101415A1; US20210253963A1; EP3810732B1; ES2927344T3; CN112534026A; FR3082850B1; EP3810732A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for processing a biomass-containing feedstock, said method comprising at least the following steps: a) a step of drying said feedstock at a temperature between 20 and 180 °C for a duration of between 5 and 180 minutes, b) a step of torrefaction of the dried feedstock coming from step a) for producing at least one solid torrefied biomass effluent, and c) a step of co-grinding the solid torrefied biomass effluent from step b) in the presence of a second biomass feedstock in order to obtain a powder.

Description

PROCESS FOR TREATING BIOMASS BY CO-GRINDING WITH A

SECOND LOAD OF BIOMASS

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to the treatment of biomass for its preparation for the purpose of its recovery in particular by gasification for the production of liquid hydrocarbons, and optionally the production of petrochemical bases and / or chemical bases and / or hydrogen.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a process for treating a feedstock comprising biomass with a view to its injection into a gasification reactor for the production of hydrocarbons, in particular gasolines and gas oil and kerosene.

PRIOR ART

In the field of the invention, the skilled person constantly seeks to improve the conditioning of biomass in particular to improve its calorific value.

More particularly, the improvement in the particle size of the powder obtained by the treatment process from biomass and the energy cost associated with this treatment, are essential parameters for the preparation of biomass in particular in more general gasification processes. .

Biomass processing is well known to those skilled in the art for its enhancement through the production of hydrocarbons. The main stages of this treatment are drying, heat treatment, such as roasting and grinding. These steps are described in particular in applications WO2014 / 068253. The main parameters of this treatment are the characteristics of the powder obtained, in particular these dimensions, as well as the energy cost of grinding and more generally of the process.

Application WO2013 / 1 14328 describes a process for grinding a carbonaceous charge originating from biomass in the presence of additives in the form of a micron-sized powder, derived from mineral material such as magnesium stearate or silica in the form of a micro-pearl and / or vegetable such as charcoal, in order to improve the properties of the powder obtained by grinding the biomass such as flowability and the ability to fluidize, and thus to allow obtaining a intimate mixture of weak powders sizes. This document does not describe the use of additives other than in powder form and only to micron dimensions, during the grinding of the biomass.

Optimizing the treatment and packaging of biomass, in particular by simplifying the processes used, reducing the energy cost of said stages, in particular the grinding stage, remains an important challenge in the field of the invention.

Surprisingly, the Applicant has discovered a method for treating a first load of biomass by at least one step of co-grinding said load in mixture with a second load of biomass. Advantageously, said co-grinding allows the grinding of the charges as well as the drying and grinding of a second charge of biomass. Indeed, the grinding of the biomass charge is an exothermic step and the heat generated advantageously makes it possible to simultaneously dry the second biomass charge. Another advantage of the process according to the invention is the reduction in the energy cost of the process by the energy integration of the gases formed during the different stages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a new method for treating a first load of biomass, said method comprising the following steps:

a) A step of drying said charge at a temperature of between 20 and 180 ° C., for a period of between 5 and 180 minutes,

b) A step of roasting the dried charge resulting from step a) to produce at least one solid effluent of roasted biomass, and

c) A step of co-grinding the solid roasted biomass effluent from step b) in the presence of a second load of biomass to obtain a powder.

An advantage of the process according to the present invention is that it makes it possible to obtain an intimate mixture of powders of small particle size coming from biomass fillers.

An advantage of co-grinding according to the present invention is that it allows the drying of a second gross load of biomass simultaneously with step c) of co-grinding by the transfer of the thermal energy generated by the grinding of the roasted biomass. towards the second biomass load. Another advantage of the present invention is to allow the treatment of biomass at a limited energy cost thanks to the combination of a sequence of steps operating under specific conditions allowing their energy integration.

Preferably, the method comprises a step d) of final drying of the powder obtained at the end of step c) at a temperature between 100 and 300 ° C.

Preferably, step d) of drying is carried out simultaneously with step c) of co-grinding.

Preferably, the biomass is chosen from any type of biomass, preferably solid type biomass, and in particular lignocellulosic type biomass. Preferably, the method comprises a step i) of pretreatment of the first load of biomass, preferably a step of primary grinding.

Preferably, step b) of roasting is carried out at a temperature between 200 and 350 ° C, preferably between 220 and 340 ° C, preferably between 250 and 320 ° C and more preferably between 270 and 300 ° C for a duration of between 5 and 180 minutes, and preferably between 15 and 60 minutes, at an absolute operating pressure preferably between 0.01 and 1.5 MPa, preferably between 0.01 and 1.0 MPa and more preferred between 0.05 and 0.15 MPa.

Preferably, the method comprises a step ii) of combustion of the roasting gases from step b).

Preferably, the energy resulting from stage ii) of combustion of the roasting gases is used to supply the thermal energy necessary in a stage of the process, preferably in stages a), b) and / or d).

Preferably, the second load of biomass is subjected to a step iii) of preliminary drying and or of primary grinding.

Preferably, the roasted biomass solid effluent from step b) is introduced in step c) of co-grinding in a mass percentage between the biomass roasted solid effluent in the total solid charge of between 1.0 and 99% by mass, preferably between 50 and 98% by mass, and preferably between 40 and 95% by mass, said total solid charge being the sum of the solid effluent of roasted biomass and the second biomass charge. Preferably, the second gross load of biomass having been subjected or not to a preliminary drying stage iii), entering into stage c) of co-grinding at a moisture content of between 3.1 and 30% by mass, preferably between 4.0 and 25% by mass and very preferably between 5.0 and 20% by mass. Preferably, the process comprises one or more stages of storage e) of the effluent from one or any of the stages of the process, and preferably in one or more of the stages a), b), c), or d).

Preferably, the method comprises a step f) of transport, preferably of pneumatic transport. Preferably, the process comprises a step g) of gasification at a temperature between 800 and 1800 ° C, preferably between 1000 and 1600 ° C and more preferably between 1200 and 1500 ° C and at an absolute pressure advantageously between 2, 0 and 12.0 MPa, preferably between 2.5 and 6.0 MPa, and more preferably between 3.0 and 5.0 MPa. DEFINITIONS & ABBREVIATIONS

Throughout the description, the terms or abbreviations below have the following meaning:

By biomass load is meant, without limitation, solid type biomass, and in particular lignocellulosic type biomass. Non-limiting examples of types of biomass relate for example to agricultural residues (in particular straw, corn cobs), residues from forest exploitation, products from forestry exploitation, residues from sawmills, dedicated crops by coppice example with short rotation.

The expression loss of anhydrous mass is understood to mean the percentage of material lost during the roasting stage (excluding water) reduced to the total mass injected in the roasting stage (excluding water). By roasting is meant a heat treatment process at a temperature between 200 and 350 ° C, and generally carried out in an oxygen-depleted atmosphere.

The term “gasification” is intended to mean a step implementing a partial oxidation reaction which converts the charge into synthesis gas mainly comprising carbon monoxide and dihydrogen. Co-grinding means the grinding of the biomass load in the presence of the second gross biomass load.

By ratio, mass ratio is meant the ratio between the mass of the constituent considered relative to the total mass of the filler. By characteristic size is meant the measurement of the length of a particle according to its largest dimension.

Anisotropic means variable properties of resistance of the material according to the orientation of the force to which it is subjected.

By humidity, the ratio between the mass of water containing in a load and the total mass of said load.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the sense of the present invention, the various embodiments presented throughout the description can be used alone or in combination with each other, without limitation of combination. Load

According to the invention, the first and second charges of the process are chosen from biomass alone or as a mixture. The amount of water contained in the charge is between 1 and 80% by mass, preferably between 5 and 75% and preferably between 10 and 70%. The biomass is chosen from any type of biomass, preferably solid-type biomass, and in particular lignocellulosic-type biomass. Non-limiting examples of types of biomass relate for example to agricultural residues (in particular straw, corn cobs), forest exploitation residues, forest exploitation products, sawmill residues, dedicated crops by coppice example with short rotation.

Preferably, the biomass is lignocellulosic biomass. It essentially comprises three natural constituents present in variable amounts depending on its origin: cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. The lignocellulosic biomass load is used in its form, that is to say in the entirety of these three constituents cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lignocellulosic biomass is chosen from grassy biomass, agricultural residues such as straw waste, corn cobs, sugar cane bagasse, operational residues forestry or sawmills such as wood chips or any other type of wood residue.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first load of biomass can optionally undergo a stage i) of pretreatment prior to its introduction into stage a) of the process according to the invention. The objective of stage i) of pretreatment is to allow the injection of the pretreated charge in stage a) of drying.

Stage i) of pretreatment depends on the type of charge considered. Preferably step i) of pretreatment is a step of primary grinding of said charge making it possible to reduce its particle size to a characteristic size of between 10 and 50 mm. Said step i) of primary grinding is advantageously carried out according to a technique known to a person skilled in the art. Stage i) of pretreatment can also advantageously comprise a shaping of the load such as for example by pelletization, compression or any other technique known to a person skilled in the art in order to facilitate its transport, its storage, and its treatment subsequent in step a) of drying the process according to the invention.

Drying step a)

According to the invention, the method comprises a step a) of drying the first load of biomass, optionally pretreated, said step a) of drying is implemented by bringing the load into contact with a flow of hot gas which cools. The flow of hot gas enters at said stage at a temperature between 50 and 500 ° C, preferably between 100 and 450 ° C and preferably between 150 and 350 ° C, and for a period between 5 and 180 minutes, preferably between 10 and 100 minutes and preferably between 15 and 60 minutes and provides the dried charge and possibly pretreated. The dried solid leaves this step at a temperature between 40 and 120 ° C, preferably between 50 and 90 ° C, even more preferably between 60 and 80 ° C.

The purpose of drying is to remove the water contained in the load. According to the invention, the amount of residual water leaving the drying step a) is between 0.0 and 5.0% by mass relative to the total mass of the filler, preferably between 0.0 and 4.5%, preferably between 0.0 and 4.0%.

The energy required for drying is generally provided by bringing the load into contact with a flow of hot gases. The flow of hot gases used in the drying step can advantageously come from the combustion of an input to the process and preferably from the combustion of natural gas and / or the combustion of a gas flow from another step. of the process.

For example, the combustion of the gases from stage b) of roasting produces a flow of hot gas which can be used to dry the charge for any method known to those skilled in the art. The gaseous effluent from step a) containing water can be used to preheat the air allowing the combustion of natural gas and / or the gas flow produced during roasting.

In a preferred embodiment, said charge (1) introduced in step a) consists of biomass as defined above.

In a particular embodiment, said charge (1) introduced in step a) consists of biomass as defined above.

Roasting step b)

In accordance with the invention, the dried charge from step a) is sent to a roasting step b) to produce at least one solid effluent from roasted biomass.

Roasting is a gentle thermal decomposition process in a temperature range between 200 and 350 ° C. This process is generally characterized by low rates of temperature rise (<50 ° C / min) and long residence times (between 20 min and 60 min).

According to the invention, stage b) of roasting is carried out at a temperature between 200 and 350 ° C, preferably between 220 and 340 ° C, preferably between 250 and 320 ° C and more preferably between 270 and 300 ° C for a period of between 5 and 180 minutes, and preferably between 15 and 60 minutes, at an absolute operating pressure preferably between 0.01 and 1.5 MPa, preferably between 0.01 and 1.0 MPa and more preferably between 0.05 and 0.15 MPa. The roasting operation is carried out in an environment where the oxygen content is less than 10.0% volume, preferably is between 0.0 and 10.0% volume, preferably between 0.0 and 8.0% volume and preferably between 0.0 and 3.0% volume.

Around 200 ° C, hemicelluloses, which are the most reactive compounds in lignocellulosic biomass, begin to undergo devolatilization and carbonization reactions. At this temperature level, the cellulose and the lignin are, for their part, only little transformed. The decomposition products of lignocellulosic biomass are generated in the form of condensable gases (mainly water, formic acid, acetic acid and other organic compounds) and noncondensables (mainly CO and C0 ₂ ).

Roasting changes the structure of lignocellulosic biomass and therefore its properties. In particular, the roasting operation makes the biomass more fragile and attenuates its highly anisotropic nature. It is well known to those skilled in the art that wood for example by its fibrous nature will have a much higher elastic resistance to stretching if it is applied in the direction of the fibers than if it is applied transversely to those -this. Thus in comparison with a biomass powder of a given average particle size, obtaining an equivalent powder from the same biomass having undergone a roasting step, will require a much lower grinding energy (effect linked to the fragility of the material) and the final shape of the solid particles obtained approximates to spherical particles (effect linked to the less anisotropic nature) which facilitates subsequent grinding.

Said roasting step b) can advantageously be implemented in a device of the rotary oven, rotary oven, screw oven, moving bed oven and fluidized bed ovens type.

According to the invention, stage b) of roasting produces a solid effluent called roasted biomass.

Said roasting step b) also allows the production of a combustible gaseous effluent, called roasting gas, the amount of which preferably represents from 5.0 to 40.0% of the mass of dried biomass resulting from step a) initial according to the operating conditions and more preferably from 10.0 to 35.0%.

One of the key parameters of the roasting step is the loss of anhydrous mass (expressed as a percentage by mass) defined as the percentage of mass loss between initial dry biomass and dry roasted biomass. The higher this loss, the higher the yield solid mass is low, the greater the amount of roasting gas generated. It is known that the lower calorific value (PCI) of this gas is also a function of the percentage loss of anhydrous mass (the PCI is an increasing function of this percentage for a given load).

According to the invention, the choice of a sufficiently high percentage of anhydrous mass loss during the roasting stage makes it possible to limit the consumption of a fuel entering the process, in particular during drying. Thus it limits the use of fossil fuel by the recovery of roasting gases generated in the roasting stage.

In a preferred embodiment, the percentage of anhydrous loss is chosen so that the heat released by the combustion of the roasting gases (internally or externally in afterburning) makes it possible to provide the necessary energy at least for a drying step. Preferably, the loss of anhydrous mass is between 1.0 and 40.0% by mass, preferably between 5.0 and 35.0% by mass, and preferably between 15.0 and 30.0% by mass, relative to the total mass of the feed introduced in step b) of roasting.

In one embodiment of the method, the roasting gases are sent in a combustion step ii) in which they are burned to produce a flow of hot gases in a combustion chamber in the presence of air and possibly natural gas which can be sent to stages a) and / or d) of drying, or a flow of hot gas which can be returned in stage b) of roasting. Stage ii) of combustion can advantageously be integrated into stage b) of roasting or not.

In one embodiment, the energy produced during step ii) of combustion of the roasting gases from step b) is used to supply the energy necessary for at least one step of the process, preferably at step a) of drying and preferably also in step d) of final drying by means of the flow or in step b) of roasting by means of the flow.

The thermal energy from stage ii) of combustion is sent to stages a), b) and / or d) by means known to those skilled in the art.

Part of the flow of hot gas from stage ii) of combustion can advantageously be sent in a heat exchange stage making it possible to preheat the air used in stage a) of drying and in the stage of final drying d). In one embodiment, part of the flow of hot gases from stage ii) of combustion is directly injected into stage b) of roasting so as to provide, by gas / solid heat exchange, the energy necessary for the transformation of the biomass load.

If the flow of combustible roasting gas from step b) is not sufficient, an additional fuel and preferably natural gas can advantageously be introduced in combustion step ii) so as to obtain the energy necessary for the various stages consuming thermal energy.

At the end of stage b) of roasting, the solid roasted biomass effluent obtained at a humidity level of between 0.0 and 5.0% by mass, and preferably between 0.0 and 3.0% mass, and very preferably between 0.001 and 3.0%. By solid roasted biomass is meant a solid obtained by roasting the biomass.

The solid roasted biomass effluent obtained at the end of step b) can optionally be stored in an optional storage step before its introduction into step c) of co-grinding of the process according to the invention. Said storage step can advantageously be carried out according to methods known to those skilled in the art. Preferably, the roasted solid biomass can be stored in planetary screw capacities, in silos, or under hangar in suitable open cells.

In the advantageous case where step c) of co-grinding is implemented sequentially, a storage step makes it possible to continue to operate step b) of roasting and the optional step ii) of combustion in order to continue producing the flow of hot gas necessary for steps a) of drying and d) of final drying.

Step c) co-grinding

According to the invention, the method comprises a step c) of co-grinding the solid roasted biomass effluent from step b), and having optionally been stored in an optional storage step, in the presence of a second load of biomass to obtain a ground effluent, also called ground powder. Said step c) of co-grinding is carried out at a temperature between 0 ° C and 150 ° C and preferably between 20 ° C and 100 ° C and more preferably between 50 ° C and 90 ° C. The second charge of biomass and solid roasted biomass effluent are crushed simultaneously in a single mill. The objective of step c) of co-grinding is to reduce the particle size of the two loads of biomass introduced in said step c), while ensuring a particle shape conducive to their subsequent transport and use, and preferably to their injection into a gasification step. The effluent particles leaving said co-grinding step c) have a characteristic size of between 50 and 500 microns, preferably 70 and 200 microns and preferably between 80 and 150 microns.

Said second biomass feed introduced in step c) of co-grinding is chosen from biomass feeds as defined above. The second biomass load can be identical to or different from the biomass load introduced in step a) of drying.

Preferably, the dimensions of the second biomass charge introduced in step c) of co-grinding are between 1.0 and 100 millimeters, preferably between 2.0 and 80 millimeters, preferably between 3.0 and 70 millimeters, preferably between 4.0 and 60 millimeters and preferably between 5.0 and 50 millimeters.

In a particular embodiment, the fossil charge can have dimensions between 30 and 100 millimeters, preferably between 35 and 90 millimeters, preferably between 40 and 80 millimeters and preferably between 45 and 70 millimeters.

In another particular embodiment, the fossil charge can have dimensions of between 1.0 and 60 millimeters, preferably between 2.0 and 50 millimeters, preferably between 3.0 and 40 millimeters and preferably between 4, 0 and 30 millimeters.

Preferably, the moisture content of the second biomass load entering step c) of co-grinding must be between 3.1 and 30.0% by mass, preferably between 4.0 and 25.0% by mass and very preferably between 5.0 and 20.0% by mass.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said second load of biomass may optionally undergo a step iii) of pretreatment prior to its introduction into step c) of the method according to the invention. The objective of step iii) of pretreatment is to allow the injection of the second biomass charge in step c) of co-grinding in the desired specificities.

Stage iii) of pre-treatment depends on the type of second biomass load considered. Preferably step iii) of pretreatment is a step of primary grinding of said second charge making it possible to reduce its particle size to a characteristic size between 10 and 50 mm. Said step iii) of primary grinding is advantageously carried out according to a technique known to a person skilled in the art. Stage iii) of pretreatment can also advantageously comprise a shaping of the second biomass charge such as for example by pelletization, compression or any other technique known to a person skilled in the art in order to facilitate its transport, its storage, and its subsequent treatment in step c) of co-grinding of the process according to the invention.

Advantageously, step iii) of pretreatment is a preliminary drying step depending on the initial rate of humidity of the second biomass load before its introduction into step c) of co-grinding. Stage iii) of preliminary drying makes it possible to obtain a second raw charge of so-called pre-dried biomass charge and to make it compatible with its injection in stage c) of co-grinding.

Preferably, the roasted biomass solid effluent and the second biomass charge are introduced into said co-grinding step c) so that the mass percentage between the roasted biomass solid effluent in the total solid charge feeding step c) co-grinding is between 1 and 99% by mass, preferably between 40 and 98% by mass, preferably between 50 and 95% by mass. Total solid load means the sum of the solid effluent of roasted biomass and the second biomass load.

Preferably, the co-grinding step can be carried out in the presence of an additional compound useful for the subsequent gasification step, said compound is chosen from vitrified ash, sand, limestone, lime or other compounds known to a person skilled in the art taken alone or as a mixture.

Preferably, the grinder is chosen so as to optimize the pneumatic transport of the powder obtained at the end of step c), while minimizing the minimum fluidization speed (UMF), as well as its own energy consumption.

Preferably, said step c) of co-grinding is carried out in a “roller mill”, “universal”, “attrition” type grinder, or any other type of grinder known to those skilled in the art.

Surprisingly, the Applicant has found that the co-grinding of the roasted biomass solid effluent and of a second load of biomass causes, in addition to the grinding of the second gross load of biomass, the particularly efficient drying of said load of biomass . Indeed, grinding is a very exothermic step. In addition, the implementation as described according to the invention allows an intimate mixture of the two biomass charges. Thus, the co-grinding of a low humidity load, such as the solid effluent roasted biomass with a wet load, such that the second biomass load allows a transfer of the heat generated by the grinding of the biomass to water. contained in the second load of biomass and thus optimizes the drying of the latter. This simultaneous drying advantageously makes it possible to simplify the number of process steps as well as to limit its energy consumption.

Optional step d) final drying

In a particular embodiment, the method according to the invention can also comprise a step d) of final drying of the powder obtained at the end of step c). This final drying step d) is carried out by bringing the load into contact with a flow of gas. Said gas flow enters at said stage at a temperature between 50 and 150 ° C, preferably between 70 and 120 ° C to produce a dried powder.

The objective of the optional final drying step d) is to reduce the moisture content of the powder resulting from step c) to an acceptable level for its injection in a subsequent treatment step and preferably in a step gasification. Preferably, the optional final drying step d) makes it possible to lower the humidity level of the powder obtained at the end of step c) below 3.0% by mass, preferably between 1, 0 and 3.0% by mass. Preferably stage d) of final drying is carried out simultaneously with stage of co-grinding c).

The thermal energy required for this drying is provided either by combustion of a flow entering the process (natural gas for example), or preferentially by energy integration by means of a heat exchange preheating the drying air by using a hot effluent from stage ii) of combustion. According to the invention, the choice of a sufficiently high percentage of loss of anhydrous mass from stage b) of roasting makes it possible to limit the use of a fuel entering the process in stage d); in particular, it limits the use of fossil fuel. Optional step e) storage

The process according to the invention can advantageously comprise one or more stages e) of storage of the effluent from any of the stages of the process, preferably of stage a), b), c), or d) . Preferably, the effluent from step c) or d) is stored to produce a stored effluent also called stored powder.

Storage keeps a charge buffer volume. This volume is necessary to maintain the operability of the downstream section if the upstream section stops.

Stage e) of storage preferably consists of silos of sufficient useful volumes to supply the downstream section. For example, the volume of these silos must ensure a 24 to 48 hour supply from the downstream section.

The storage step e) can also include a section for pressurizing via different successive capacities operating sequentially in order to increase the storage pressure of the charge up to a pressure compatible with its injection in a subsequent step and preferably in a gasification step. Optional step f) of transport

The effluent from step c) or the effluent from step d) or the effluent from step e) for storage can advantageously undergo a step e) of transport. The effluent transported is called transported effluent or transported powder. Stage f) of transport allows the effluent, preferably formulated and having the desired composition, to be conveyed to a later stage and preferably to a stage g) of gasification.

Preferably, step f) of transport is implemented using pneumatic transport technology.

The carrier gas used in step f) for transfer by pneumatic transport is preferably nitrogen, C0 ₂ or any other inert gas making it possible to avoid the formation of an explosive atmosphere zone (ATEX powders) and compatible with the subsequent step located downstream and preferably with step f) of gasification.

The flow rate of the carrier gas is calculated according to methods known to those skilled in the art in order to obtain both the desired flow rate and the transport density. The parameters of stage b) of roasting and of stage c) of co-grinding are selected so as to optimize the quality of this transport (UMF optimized in accordance with the energy consumption of these sections).

Optional step g) of gasification

The powder from step c), d) or from a storage step e) is transported to step f), preferably formulated and having the desired composition, can advantageously be sent in a later step g) of gasification.

Said gasification stage g) implements a partial oxidation reaction which converts the charge into a synthesis gas mainly comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Gasification step g) is advantageously carried out in the presence of a controlled quantity of oxygen in the form of a flow the flow of which is controlled and containing at least 90% volume of oxygen, preferably at least 96% volume of oxygen.

Step g) of gasification of the effluent is advantageously carried out according to the methods known to those skilled in the art.

Preferably, it is carried out in a gasifier of the plasma type, fixed bed, or fluidized bed or preferably in a gasifier with entrained flow with a wall cooled at high temperature, that is to say at a temperature between 800 and 1800 ° C, preferably between 1000 and 1600 ° C and more preferably between 1200 and 1500 ° C and at an absolute pressure advantageously between 2 and 12 MPa, preferably between 2.5 and 6 MPa, and more preferably between 3 and 5 MPa. The high temperature makes it possible to obtain a high carbon conversion rate and therefore to reduce the amount of unconverted carbon in the ash produced and thus to reduce the amount of ash recycled to the gasifier.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the method comprises steps a), b), and c), or steps a), b), c) and d), or steps a), b), c) , d), and e), or steps a), b), c), d), e) and f), or steps a), b), c), d), e), f) and g). In a particular embodiment of the invention, the method consists of steps a), b), and c), or steps a), b), c) and d), or steps a), b), c ), d), and e), or steps a), b), c), d), e) and f), or steps a), b), c), d), e), f) and g).

The examples below illustrate the invention without limiting its scope. EXAMPLES

Example 1: process without co-grinding (according to the prior art)

According to this example, the method makes it possible to process two charges on two separate preparation lines:

· A load A of lignocellulosic biomass type in the form of oak wood chips of characteristic size 20 to 30mm. The humidity of this charge is 30% by mass.

• A second load of biomass B of lignocellulosic biomass type in the form of beech wood chips of characteristic size 20 to 30mm. The humidity of this charge is 30% by mass.

The charges A and B are different here.

This process does not include a co-grinding stage, nor energy integration between the stages of treatment of the charges A and B.

The load treatment method A comprises an energy integration step from step b) of roasting to step a) of drying the biomass.

The objective of this process is to prepare 1 tonne of feed per hour for the downstream process, here a gasification.

Description of the charge A preparation chain:

Load A is mixed with the second load of biomass B. The mixture is sent in a drying stage making it possible to reduce the humidity of the load to 3% by mass. The temperature of the solid leaving the drying step is 70 ° C. The dried chips are conveyed in a roasting step operating at an average temperature of 300 ° C. The loss of anhydrous mass during the roasting stage is 27%. The residual moisture from the chips left from this step and considered zero. The dried and roasted chips are sent in a grinding step, the technology of which is known to a person skilled in the art, for example of the pendulum roller mill type. This step makes it possible to reduce the particle size mainly (90% of the particles) below 90 microns. The technique used for characterizing the particle size uses sieves according to standard NF EN 933.

According to this example, there is no so-called final drying step, the load A in the form of dried and roasted powder is sent via a pneumatic transport in dilute phase in a storage step then in a pneumatic transport step allowing inject it into the downstream gasification process. The pneumatic transport is carried out here in dense phase. The dense phase pneumatic transport step is carried out with nitrogen as an inert carrier gas.

The table below gives the utility consumption of this diagram:

The electricity consumed includes the electricity necessary for grinding in the pendulum grinder.

The natural gas consumed corresponds to the primary and final drying.

Nitrogen meets the needs for pneumatic transport and ventilation in silos.

Example 2: process with co-grinding without energy integration towards the stage (according to the invention) According to this example, the process makes it possible to treat two charges: • A first load of biomass A of lignocellulosic biomass type in the form of oak wood chips of characteristic size 20 to 30mm. The humidity of this charge is 30% by mass.

This process includes a co-grinding step between the feed preparation chain A and that of the feed B and does not include any energy integration towards the drying step d). The co-grinding steps and the final drying are carried out simultaneously.

The heat from the combustion of the roasting gases is used in stage b) of roasting as well as in stage a) of drying.

Description of the chain

of the mixed charge:

Load A is sent in a drying step allowing the humidity of the load to be reduced to 3% by mass. The temperature of the solid leaving the drying step is 70 ° C. The dried chips are conveyed in a roasting step operating at an average temperature of 300 ° C. The loss of anhydrous mass during the roasting stage is 27%. The residual moisture from the chips is negligible at the end of this stage and considered to be zero.

The dried and roasted chips are sent in a co-grinding stage, the technology of which is known to the skilled person, for example of the pendulum roller mill type. The second load of biomass B is conveyed directly into this same mill (without prior pretreatment). This step makes it possible to reduce the size of the majority of particles (90% of the particles) below 90 microns. The technique used for characterizing the particle size uses sieves according to standard NF EN 933.

According to this example, the mixture of fillers undergoes a drying step d) concomitant with the grinding step. An unexpected effect of this grinding-drying in mixture is to decrease the energy necessary for the drying of the load B. In fact, the grinding of the load A is exothermic and produces a heat used for the drying of the load B. Said heat generated by the grinding of A significantly reduces the energy consumed for drying. This effect is noticeable on the consumption of natural gas from the burner, allowing the temperature of the atmosphere in the grinder to be raised. The mixture of fillers A and B in the form of dried powder resulting from the grinding is sent via a pneumatic transport in diluted phase in a storage stage then in a pneumatic transport stage allowing it to be injected into the downstream gasification process. The pneumatic transport is carried out here in dense phase. The dense phase pneumatic transport step is here carried out with an inert carrier gas, the gas being nitrogen in this example.

The table below gives the utility consumption of this diagram:

The natural gas consumed corresponds to stage d) of final drying.

Nitrogen meets the needs for pneumatic transport and ventilation in silos.

EXAMPLE 3 Process with Co-Crushing with Energy Integration Towards Stage D) of Final Drying (According to the Invention) According to this example, the process comprises a stage of co-grinding between the feed preparation chain A and that of the load B and therefore makes it possible to process the two loads on a single preparation line. In addition, this process includes an energy integration towards stage d) of final drying. The co-grinding and final drying stages are carried out simultaneously.

The characteristics of the charges A and B used in this process are identical to those of the charges A and B used in example 2.

The advantage of the process implemented in this example is an energy integration from the roasting stage to the final drying stage of the powder of the filler mixture. In this case, the loss of anhydrous mass is approximately 28% and advantageously makes it possible to produce the heat necessary for said final drying. Energy integration or also called thermal integration is here achieved indirectly, through the use of a heat exchanger.

The table below gives the utility consumption of this diagram:

The electricity consumed includes the electricity necessary for grinding in the pendulum grinder. The natural gas consumed corresponds to stage d) of final drying. Nitrogen meets the needs for pneumatic transport and ventilation in silos.

These examples clearly show that co-grinding (example 2) of charges A and B makes it possible to significantly reduce the consumption of natural gas, by 293 (example 1) at 296 Mj / h. In addition, the energy integration towards stage d) of final drying (example 3) makes it possible to be autothermal, that is to say without the need for external energy supply. The feed rate entering the process is then 1.06 t / h for a production of 1.0 t / h. The corresponding loss of anhydrous mass thus makes it possible to generate the heat necessary for the thermal integration of the roasting with the final drying of the load.

Claims

1. Method for treating a first solid load of biomass, said method comprising the following steps:

c) A step of co-grinding the solid roasted biomass effluent from step b) in the presence of a second solid load of biomass to obtain a powder in which the second solid load of biomass entering step c ) co-grinding at a humidity level of between 3.1 and 30% by mass.

2. Method according to claim 1 comprising a step d) of final drying of the powder obtained at the end of step c) at a temperature between 100 and 300 ° C.

3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims in which step d) of drying is carried out simultaneously with step c) of co-grinding.

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the first and the second solid biomass load are chosen from solid lignocellulosic biomass.

5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the first and the second solid biomass charge are identical.

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a step i) of pretreatment of the first solid biomass charge, preferably of primary grinding.

7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which step b) of roasting is carried out at a temperature between 200 and 350 ° C, preferably between 220 and 340 ° C, preferably between 250 and 320 ° C. and more preferably between 270 and 300 ° C. for a period of between 5 and 180 minutes, and preferably between 15 and 60 minutes, at an absolute operating pressure preferably between 0.01 and 1.5 MPa, preferably between 0, 01 and 1.0 MPa and more preferably between 0.05 and 0.15 MPa.

8. Method according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a step ii) of combustion of the roasting gases from step b).

9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the energy resulting from stage ii) of combustion of the roasting gases is used to supply the thermal energy necessary in a stage of the process, preferably in stages a) , b) and / or d).

10. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the second solid biomass charge is subjected beforehand to a step iii) of preliminary drying and / or primary grinding.

1 1. Method according to any one of the preceding claims in which the solid roasted biomass effluent from step b) is introduced in step c) of co-grinding in a mass percentage between the solid roasted biomass effluent in the total solid charge of between 1 and 99% by mass, preferably between 50 and 98% by mass, and preferably between 40 and 95% by mass, said total solid charge being the sum of the solid effluent of roasted biomass and of second charge solid biomass.

12. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the second solid load of biomass entering step c) of co-grinding at a humidity rate of between 4 and 25% by mass.

13. A method according to any one of the preceding claims comprising one or more steps of storage e) of the effluent from one or any of the steps of the method, preferably one or more of steps a), b ), c), or d).

14. Method according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a step f) of transport, preferably of pneumatic transport.

15. Method according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a step g) of gasification at a temperature between 800 and 1800 ° C, preferably between 1000 and 1600 ° C and more preferably between 1200 and 1500 ° C and at a pressure advantageously between 2 and 12 MPa, preferably between 2.5 and 6 MPa, and more preferably between 3 and 5 MPa.